Game apparatus.



No. 878,334. PATENTED FEB. 4, 1908. s. D. BOWERS.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12,1907.

1n: NORRIS Fzrsxs :o., WASHINGTON. n. c.

SPOTSWOOD D. BOWERS, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1908.

Application filed June 12.1907- Serial No. 378,531-

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPoTswoon D. Bow- ERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Bridgeport and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, and the object is to provide a novel game apparatus, by means of which an amusing and interesting game may be played.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter fully described, particularly pointed out in the claims, and clearly illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of the game board, and Figs. 2 and 3, views of the game pieces.

The game apparatus comprises a board 1 arranged upon which is a zig-zag course or path 2 starting at one side of the board and terminating at the opposite side, said path being formed of representations of animal tracks, and having at intervals, tracks 3, which are colored differently from the other tracks of the path or otherwise distinguished therefrom, said tracks 3 being what I term capture points.

Starting at a point at the same side of the board as the starting point of the path 2 and terminating at the opposite side of the course at the finishing point of said path 2 are a number of paths or courses 4, which intersect the zig-zag path 2, the points of intersection being at the capture-points 3. Intersecting the several paths 4 are paths 5, connecting the several paths 4, as illustrated. Paths 4 and 5 are formed of representations of human footprints.

In the present instance, the game is designed to represent a bear-hunt, in which a game-piece representing the bear is moved by successive moves over the zigzag path 2 from the starting point, the distance moved on each play'being determined, as is common in games of this character, by throwing dice. The game pieces representing the hunters, of which there may be several, are moved along paths 4 and 5, either back or forth,

beginning at the indicated starting place, the moves of the hunters being governed by the throwing of dice as in the case of the bear. If the bear can be overtaken on one of the capture points 3, the player so succeeding is the winner of the game. The capture is effected by the move of the player terminating on. one of the capture points when the bear is on that point, or vice versa. If this capture is not effected before the bear reaches the finish, the player whose game-piece first reaches the finish is the winner.

While I have illustrated and described the game-board as adapted to playing a game representing a bear-hunt, it is apparent that other games might be played in which the principal features of the invention might be utilized without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described. my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A game apparatus comprising a gameboard having a zig-zag path represented thereon provided at intervals with distinguishing points, and having a number of paths intersecting the zig-zag path, the point of intGISQOtiOIl being at said distinguishing points.

2. A game apparatus comprising a gameboard having represented thereon a zig-zag course or path having a start and a finish and provided at intervals throughout its extent with distinguishing points, a number of irregular paths extending across the board and intersecting said zig-zag path at several points, the points of intersection being at said distinguishing points.

3. A game apparatus comprising a gameboard having represented thereon a zig-zag path extending thereaeross and provided at intervals with distinguishing points, a nuniber of paths extending across the board and intersecting said zig-zag paths at the distinguishing points and a number of paths arranged to connect the last-mentioned path at several points.

4. A game apparatus comprising a gameboard having thereon a zig-zag path consisting of the representation of animal tracks having at intervals a track colored or marked to distinguish it from the remainder of the tracks, a plurality of paths intersecting the In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature, zig-zag path at. said distinguishing tracks, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

said paths bein formed of representations of human footpriri ts, and connecting paths con- SPOTSWOOD BOWERS' 5 necting said last mentioned paths at several WVitnesses:

points, said connecting paths being designed JAMEs WV. THOMPSON,

to represent human footprints. LINA C. BULL. 

